SUNLAND NORTH DIVISION 17 OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Quarterly Newsletter –January 2018
Email: sunlandnorth@gmail.com
website: www.sunlandnorthownersassociation.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382
The next three Division 17’s Monthly Board Meetings are scheduled for January 10th, February 14th, and March 14th at the Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Drive.
Welcome to all our new residents: As a reminder, please review Division 17’s Homeowners Association Governing Documents (CC&R’s, By-laws, and Rules and Regulations) available on Sunland North’s website
Happy New Year to all our residents. This is the first Newsletter of the year and provides information from our board members and committee chairs as it pertains to Sunland North.
President’s Report – Gary Fortmann (Volunteer)
There were no additions to last quarter’s report.
Treasurer’s Report –JimJones(Volunteer)
As I write this, many Division 17 2018 first quarter payments have been received although it is too early to know if everyone has submitted payment on time since our accountant, Robin Reese of Sequim Tax Service, deposits the checks in batches during the first two weeks of January. If you have not sent in your payment, I urge you to do so soon to avoid a late payment fee. I understand from Robin that some owners have returned their invoice (or a copy) along with their payment and adding their name on the invoice. This is unnecessary as the invoice is for the owner to retain since we do not send out reminders for quarterly payments later in the year. The information on your check is sufficient to credit the payment to the correct owner. However, if payment is being made by someone other than the owner, they should note on the memo line what address the payment is intended for.
Based on the preliminary December, 2017 Expense Report we ended 2017 $33,553 over Budget with total expenses and transfers to Reserves at $304,753 for the year. The 2017 Budget was based on having 113 units in the Association, but we ended the year with 123 units. While the higher number of units contributed to our expenses exceeding Budget, the additional assessment income from the 10 new units covered those expenses and also helped us deal with being over Budget due to higher than planned water fees, bed mulching project, roof moss removal program and operating expenses related to the fire at 191/201 Cascadia Loop that were not covered by insurance. Because our operating expenses were more than $42,000 higher than Budget for the year, we were only able to transfer $25,000 to Reserve Funds rather than our plan of $33,500. At the end of 2017 we had $19,478 in Operating Funds and $287,135 in Reserves.
At the end of December the Division 17 Fire Trust Fund totaled $528,668 which is deposited in three separate banks to ensure that each account does not exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000. In September we received a check from CAU in the amount of $681,108.87 which was to cover the first portion of the restoration of 191/201 Cascadia Loop following the fire. The check also provided funds to pay the Restoration Management Company invoice of $147,538 for the services they provided in stabilizing, securing, and cleaning up the site. In addition $3,944 was provided for the cleaning and replacement of damaged items at 231 Cascadia Loop. The total cost estimate for the restoration project is $725,098 which includes the $5,000 deductible plus depreciation of $190,471 which will be paid out once the restoration project is complete and Division 17 files a claim demonstrating that everything included in the original cost estimate was completed during the restoration project.
Secretary’s Report – David Walp ( Volunteer)
There are ten homes for sale/under construction in the Mount Baker area which leaves only six more units to complete build-out of the final phase in our development. At the time of this newsletter going to press there are no existing/resale properties on the market (41 Mendel Drive is pending). We look forward to welcoming the new owners when they occupy their units.
For the 2018 calendar year, Division 17 regular Board meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. at the Gathering Place. These are the scheduled dates: January 10th, February 14th, March 14th, April 11th, May 9th, June 13th, July 11th, August 8th, September 12th and October 10th. The September date is tentative as the date for the Annual Owner Meeting has not been decided. The November meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 7th at 2:30 p.m., while the December meeting will be December 5th at 2:30 p.m.
Owners are encouraged to attend the board meetings. They are very informative and you begin to learn how Sunland North operates and all the hard work the volunteers contribute.
Looking ahead to the Annual Owner Meeting there are three board positions that are up for election. Please support our community – consider volunteering to be a candidate for the Board of Directors.
Exterior Maintenance & InspectionReport –John Lewis (Volunteer)
2017 continued to be a very active year for our Exterior Maintenance program. The start of a regular roof moss treatment and gutter cleaning was completed and the regular annual painting program was completed. Both programs will continue in 2018.
During the year our contractor completed approximately 130 work orders. The work included a lot of trim boards replacements and rebuilding privacy walls and heat pump screens due to wood rot. There was also the usual list of gutter leaks, roof leaks and security light outages.
We need to recognize that as our homes age they will need more maintenance and therefore increased costs.
At the November Board meeting I requested the membership to offer any and all suggestions to help control the cost of exterior maintenance without adversely impacting our homes and I look forward to receiving suggestions. A couple of examples of high costs: rebuilding a failed privacy wall can be in the range of $1,500 and a failed concrete driveway or patio slab is in the range of $4,000 to $7,000.
Referring to cost control we need to recognize the contribution from volunteers including the spring inspections, the fall roof inspections and security light maintenance. For example a service call to an electrical contractor for a security light outage would cost in excess of $100. So a big thank you to the volunteers.
Architectural Control Committee’s (ACC) Report – Susan Hamman (Volunteer)
In 2017, the Architectural Control Committee approved 17 architectural change requests from unit owners. These included fence additions, storm doors, color changes, and railing additions. As a reminder to unit owners, any exterior change to your unit must go through the Architectural Control Committee for approval.
If you have an exterior change you’d like to request, please go to the Sunland North website, click on “Forms” and print these three forms: Exterior Change Request, Hold Harmless Agreement, and Neighbor Consent form. Fill them out and send them to Sunland Division 17 Owners Association,
P.O. Box 1655, Sequim, WA 98382. The Architectural Control Committee has 30 days to respond to your request, although the process usually goes much more quickly than the 30 day limit. If you have any questions about the process, please call Susan Hamman at (360) 683-1800 or e-mail her at SusanRainsHamman@gmail.com.
The 2018 building painting schedule will get under way in the summer months of the year. Unit owners whose buildings are scheduled for painting in 2018 will be notified in advance. Any changes to the original paint colors will be approved only if they conform to the general aesthetic and decorative theme of Division 17 and are similar in color and tone to existing units within your area. The unit owners within each building must agree on color changes when submitting the change request to the ACC. An Exterior Paint Color Change Request form will be available on the Division 17 website which must be completed by the unit owners and turned in to the ACC well ahead of the painting schedule deadlines.
Welcome Committee’s Report – Barbara Gruner (Volunteer)
As of January 12, 2018, Artie O’Kelly will be taking over as chairperson of the Welcome Committee. She will be assisted by her husband, Ron, and other committee members who will continue to serve on the committee. I have really enjoyed being a part of this committee over the past three years and meeting so many wonderful people who have moved to our neighborhood. During this time, the committee has made 47 visits to welcome newcomers and provide important information about living in our community. I would like to say a heartfelt “thank you” to all of the current and past committee members for their help and input during the visits, including Anne Meyer, Barbara Brooner, Jann Hale, Jaydee Price, JoAnn Sahs-Cavin, Lindsay Busch, Mary O’Neill, Nancy Borrell, Nancy Follis, Renee Jones, Sandra Ristow, and Sandy Jones. I know Artie will appreciate the help of her experienced committee members during the transition and will enjoy this volunteer job as much as I did.
Landscape Coordinator’s Report – Valerie Holland (Volunteer)
Geoff, our landscape contractor has recently finished most of the end of the year pruning. He and his crew do a great job for us and at a reasonable cost. If there is anything you think he has missed please let Valerie know. He has asked that if you have any Christmas decorations on the shrubbery, please remove, so that he can prune.
Neighborhood List Coordinator– Gerry & Kay Hatler (Volunteers)
Gerry and Kay maintain the residents’ address, email and phone list (social). Please let them know if you have any changes to phone numbers or email addresses. You may contact them at kay.hatler@gmail.com or phone at 253-951-8405.
WebsiteCoordinator’s Report – Barbara Brooner(Volunteer)
Don’t Forget We have a great Online Owner Manual!
There’s tons of useful information for HOA living on our website, so check it out at (www.SunlandNorthOwnersAssociation.com):
Who to Contact About What, downloadable Maps & Forms, Board Meeting Dates & Location, links to all our Governing Documents, past board meeting Agendas & Minutes, Monthly Financial Reports, links to past Newsletters, etc. And be sure to check out the “Featured Photos” tab for pictures from the 2017 Division 17 Holiday Party out at Seven Cedars Casino! And speaking of the Holiday Party, a big thank you to our holiday planners: Ilse Long, Valerie Fratus, and Susan Hamman!
2017 – 2018 Division 17 Board Members
President – Gary Fortmann
Vice president – John Lewis
Treasurer – Jim Jones
Secretary – David Walp
Member at large – Mike Johnson
Kay Hatler – Newsletter Editor, kay.hatler@gmail.com